People continue to come and pay respect to the late former President Roh Moo-hyun at Jeongtowon, a Buddhist temple in his hometown Bongha Village, South Gyeongsang Province, Sunday, where his remains have been laid temporarily.
/ Korea Times Photo
by Park Seo-gang |
By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
More than 72 people were arrested during clashes with riot police in the wake of the funeral service for former President Roh Moo-hyun, police said.
On Sunday, tensions were building again around Seoul Plaza, which police cordoned off after it had been briefly opened for the street memorial service for Roh Friday.
Police said they apprehended the Roh supporters who they said attacked police officers who were dispersing the crowd which was participating in unauthorized rallies in central Seoul after the funeral.
Police said more than 2,600 pro-Roh activists from progressive civic groups and labor unions staged rallies around Seoul Plaza and its vicinity over the weekend. One infuriated activist attempted to disembowel himself, but failed, police said.
Police had banned the rallies but the protestors pushed ahead as planned and ended up in clashes with riot police. More than 14,000 riot police, eight water cannons and other anti-demonstration vehicles were dispatched to the area.
Protesters chanted anti-government slogans and denounced police for banning their access to the large grass field in central Seoul.
Some violent activists damaged police buses encircling the plaza and assaulted riot police with long wooden sticks. Some wielded shovels and iron pipes and hurled stones.
About seven were injured during the confrontation, police said. The clashes in central Seoul paralyzed traffic surrounding the area for hours.
Most activists left on their own accord around midnight, but some continued mourning ceremonies on their own.
Activist Choi Joon-ho said, ``The government doesn't want to listen to what people say. Police even destroyed makeshift altars in a hurry after Roh's funeral was over.''
Lee Jae-eun, 20, added, ``The authorities maintained a low-key stance until the funeral. But today was totally different.''
Police have not ruled out the possibility that mourners could turn into anti-government protesters, with a large number of Roh supporters believing the former head of state had fallen prey to a politically motivated investigation which they say has been orchestrated by President Lee Myung-bak.
Police said that they will not overlook any unapproved gatherings to mourn the former president, signaling that another round of clashes in the days to come could be likely.
pss@koreatimes.co.kr
|
